Comments Off on EPA to eliminate 1,228 employees by August – including dozens of scientists

Although 97 percent of scientists agree that climate change is a real threat, the Trump administration maintains that global warming is a “hoax” – and it’s gutting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) . Under administrator Scott Pruitt the EPA has scrubbed climate science from its website, and now it’s eliminating thousands of employees — including dozens of scientists — by failing to renew their contracts in August. The Washington Post reports that members of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) were alerted via email that their terms will not be renewed in August. While they do have the opportunity to re-apply by September, the news came as a shock to many – on average, scientists serve three terms and are re-elected to a fourth if they are willing to serve. Peter Meyer, an economist with the E.P. Systems Group, resigned from the board’s sustainable and healthy communities subcommittee as a form of protest. Meyer said: “We were told quite explicitly by the leadership of the sustainable and healthy communities group … that our assignment was a four-to-five-year assignment. That was what we were told at our first meeting. That produces an assumption that you’re going to get reappointed so that you can complete the job.” Deborah Swackhamer, chair of the board’s executive committee and professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota, added, “It effectively wipes out the BOSC and leaves it free for a complete reappointment.” Related: EPA dismisses 5 members of major scientific review board Because this is the second time this year the agency failed to renew scientists’ terms, some claim the Trump administration is politicizing the agency, which exists to benefit wildlife and preserve the environment. In response, EPA officials stated that the cuts provide a new opportunity to reach out to a broad array of applicants and draw on their expertise. “ EPA is grateful for the service of all BOSC members, past and present, and has encouraged those with expiring terms to reapply,” said agency spokeswoman Amy Graham. “We are taking an inclusive approach to filling future BOSC appointments and welcome all applicants from all relevant scientific and technical fields.” The BOSC advises the agency’s Office of Research and Development on whether its research can adequately address important scientific questions. Due to cuts, only five scientists remain on the executive committee. The ultimate fear is that the EPA could eliminate members that hold different opinions than the Trump administration , and fill those positions with people who are more favorable to the communities being regulated by the agency. Reportedly, the agency’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) will also be changed in the near future. “This gives me a great deal of concern about the erosion of science in this administration,” said Robert Richardson, an ecological economist and associate professor in Michigan State University’s Department of Community Sustainability . “It’s hard to understand the rationale behind a decision like this. I understand they might simply want to repopulate [the board] with people of their own choosing. However, this could also be a way of just weakening advisory boards, of diminishing their role by not replacing members.” Via Washington Post Images via EPA , PBS

Comments Off on Cool Chargeboard Juices Up Your Smartphone While You Skate

Ever wished you could charge your iPhone while skateboarding? Now you can with Chargeboard , a fantastic new long board designed by Bjorn van den Hout . Unlike any other board on the market, Chargeboard generates its own electricity through two hidden dynamos, storing it right away into a power box. And to up the cool ante as only Dutch designers know how, the board doubles as a docking station for blasting your favorite tunes after a long ride. Read the rest of Cool Chargeboard Juices Up Your Smartphone While You Skate Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: Bjorn van den Hout , Chargeboard , charges iPhone , docking station for music , dutch design , energy efficient device , kinetic energy

Comments Off on ABC’s Investigative Team Uncovers Plastic Microbeads in Toothpaste Getting Stuck In Patients Gums

ABC7 Chicago reports that Dentists and dental hygienists have begun speaking out against plastic microbeads in toothpastes after many have noticed the tiny blue beads lodged in patients’ gums or between their teeth. Dentists are concerned about the possible implications for gingivitis and periodontal disease, although no cases have yet been reported. In response, toothpaste manufacturers have indicated they are happy to remove the beads from their products, but there will be a “phasing out” period. Read the rest of ABC’s Investigative Team Uncovers Plastic Microbeads in Toothpaste Getting Stuck In Patients Gums Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: dental hygiene , gingivitis , gum disease , health issues , microbeads , periodontal disease , plastic microbeads , plastic microbeads in toothpaste , plastics , polyethylene , teeth , toothpaste , water issues

Comments Off on Art of Board Turns Old Skateboards into the Coolest Wall and Floor Tiles Ever

Recycling skateboards is all the rage lately, but these tiles are the coolest upcycled product we’ve seen to date. Art of Board is a lifestyle and design brand that embodies the creative spirit, freedom and individuality of skateboarding. The group’s hard and soft goods pay homage to a used skateboard deck’s scratches, gouges and worn graphics – capturing the true soul of skateboarding. Creators of the first-ever skateboard recycling movement, I Ride I Recycle , the movement allows skateshops, parks, board manufacturers and individual riders to be part of the brand’s designs by recycling their skateboards instead of tossing them in the trash. The brand’s goal is to keep wood waste out of landfills, support skateshops and parks, and empower youth. In addition to turning them into wall and floor tiles, the designers make iPhone cases , key rings, and a smorgasbord of other coolness. How do you say Love? + Art of Board The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to see your story on Inhabitat ? Send us a tip by following this link . Remember to follow our instructions carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing! Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: Art of Board , eco design , floor tiles , green design , I ride I recycle , reader submitted content , Recycled Materials , recycled skateboards , sustainable design , wall tiles